Watching football in a basement that is
being ventilated of toxic fumes gives the viewer a unique perspective
on the action. The chemical smells of carpet cleaner and generic air
freshener mix to accompany the nuanced football taking place between
Germany and Portugal. Both sides have exchanged bouts of diving and
trickery, but neither able to break through in the opening twenty
minutes.
Pepe gives the impression that if he
had been born without his formidable football skills, he would have
been a contract killer, a hired assassin used to carry out covert
missions. Rather than using stealth and guild to accomplish his
missions, Pepe prefers a rocket launcher to dismember his
unrecognizable targets. Pepe's specialty is collateral damage and he
makes no mistakes when it comes to putting in a devastating tackle on
his opponents. It was a surprising sight in the first half when he
helped his Real Madrid teammate Mezut Ozil to his feet following a
challenge.
Ze Germans have preferred to dribble
into the attacking area to earn their chances. Portugal has been
happy to sink into defense and attack with pace when given the
opportunities. As Ze Germans settled into the game, their
opportunities came with increasing frequency, but they were unable to
score in the first half. Portugal had the best chance of the first
half, hitting the bar off a corner kick that fell to Pepe, but hit
the underside of the crossbar and was cleared by the German defense.
I retreated upstairs for halftime,
breathing in the fresh air cleared my head from the contentious match
taking place on the television. Fifteen minutes later it was time to
return and I was greeted with a German attack that ended with
Podolski's shot being blocked by Joao Periera. Timely interventions
and hard tackles made up the majority of the first twenty minutes
after the restart, with neither side being able to find the goal that
would give them the advantage.
In the 72nd minute a
deflected cross from Jerome Boateng found the head of Mario Gomez who
launched a header back across the goal and into the back of the net.
A moment of brilliance had finally come after a rather boring match
between two of the top teams in the world. Following the goal, the
Germans had another opportunity to score, but Gomez was unable to get
onto the driven cross.
The Portuguese attack became
increasingly desperate in the late stages, forcing timely challenges
from Hummels and Co.. Cristiano Ronaldo had tried his tricks on the
edge of the area, but found the waiting hands of Manuel Neuer with a
shot from distance and earned a corner. Nani found only the crossbar
with an effort a few minutes later and it began to look like Portugal
would not be able to equalize.
Their best chance came when Nelson
Oliveira played a ball across the penalty area through two German
defenders to the waiting substitute Varela, but the newly introduced
man blasted his shot into the groin of Neuer and Ze Germans cleared
from danger. A corner in stoppage time gave Portugal a final
opportunity to score, Bruno Alves rose to meet Nani's corner, but the
ball sailed over the goal dooming Portugal to the bottom of the group
standings with the Netherlands. A deserved victory for Ze Germans who
were the aggressors throughout.
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